LICENCE TO THRILL
Hojbjerg has given Kane and Son a new lease of life, says 1991 Cup hero David Howells
THE last time Tottenham won the FA Cup, David Howells was the holding midfielder who gave the flair players around him licence to strut their stuff.
Paul Gascoigne, Paul Stewart and Paul Allen all benefited from the self-styled “sensible” head tucked in behind them.
These days, Harry Kane and Heung-min Son are benefiting similarly from the job Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is performing in Spurs’ midfield.
And Howells sees no reason why Hojbjerg cannot help drive Tottenham all the way to Wembley to emulate what he and his pals did 30 years ago.
Howells, whose former team face Championship Wycombe tomorrow, said: “The team has a good chance of doing that.
“It’s a tough game at Wycombe and, even if we get through that game, Everton away will be tough.
“But, nonetheless, they’ll fancy their chances in all the cups they are in.
“The players are all too aware how long it has been since they’ve won a trophy, the manager as well, everyone around the club, and the supporters more than anybody.
“So there appears to be a determination to win something. Not that there hasn’t been in years gone by, but it seems like something that could happen pretty soon.
“With Hojbjerg, I didn’t know he’d be as good as he has.
“I knew he would be a really good presence in the dressing room. I’d heard from players I know at Southampton that he was a big presence.
“A big voice in the dressing room who doesn’t expect anything other than the highest standards from himself and everybody else.
“We have a lot of leaders in our dressing room, but to keep adding them, even better.
“I knew, from that respect, he would be a good signing, but he has surprised me in how good he has been in his ability. His passing is very, very good, very consistent, with a better range than I thought.
“I’ve been very interested in watching him because the role I ended up playing at Spurs is a similar one to him.
“It’s about having that awareness of what’s going on around you, that sensible head, if you like, while the flair players would be the ones who had more freedom.”
Tottenham have won only one trophy – the 2008 League Cup – since Howells, Gary Lineker, Gazza, Gary Mabbutt and Co won the FA Cup.
Which is why he
Alderweireld Toby with team-mates
and Heung-min Son Pierre-Emile
Hojbjerg
knows the esteem that Jose Mourinho (below) and his men will be held in if they can lift the League Cup next month when they face Manchester City in the final or the FA Cup in May. Howells added: “I wasn’t really treated any differently while I was still playing, but now, looking back, especially with Spurs not having won too much since then, it’s certainly something that gets mentioned a lot and it’s nice to have on your CV when people are talking about you.
“It was the only major honour I won and it’s something I’m very, very proud of and it will always be there in the records that we did that for Tottenham.”